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Disclosure: I was invited to dine as a guest of Prezzo in exchange for this post. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
If you find yourself craving modern Italian food in Boca Raton, there is one place you can count on to satisfy that craving — Prezzo. Prezzo is one of four restaurants owned and operated by award-winning South Florida restaurateur, Burt Rapoport, and part of the celebrated Rapoport’s Restaurant Group. Recently, Burt appointed a new executive chef to lead the Prezzo kitchen, Italian born-and-trained Fabrizio Pintus. He’s cooked in restaurants throughout Italy, and now brings his culinary expertise and authenticity to us, right here in South Florida.
Chef Fabrizio has launched his new seasonal menu, featuring the classics with a little bit of a contemporary twist. There are some things at Prezzo that will never change though, and that’s the signature roasted garlic, served to diners with crisp breadsticks and an aroma that will have your mouth watering in anticipation. While the garlic is meant to be spread like butter all over the crostini, you could easily eat it with a fork or a spoon — I don’t care what you use, just please make sure you dig in.
New antipasti dishes that have proven to be a hit include the burrata bruschetta — garlic-toasted rustic Italian bread topped with Mozzarita burrata, tomato crudo and fresh basil, and drizzled with balsamic reduction — and the arancini di tartufo, which comes with five crispy risotto rice balls filled with black truffles, mascarpone and parmigiano Reggiano, and served with lemon aioli. Both make delicious starters and are easily shareable.
Another new dish that would be great to start off with and share with the table, is the roasted beet salad with red and golden beets, oranges, goat cheese, arugula, pistachio, and a lemon dressing. This salad is both gluten-free and vegetarian, and guests can even add chicken, salmon, shrimp or meatballs for an additional price.
One of the things that Prezzo is most known for is its wood-burning oven, churning out perfectly cooked pizzas served hot, right out of the oven. Stick to the traditional, and order the Margherita with house-pulled mozzarella and fresh basil, spice things up with the Diavolo with pepperoni, Calabrian chili, Pomodoro and mozzarella, or try something new, like the shrimp scampi pizza, prosciutto di parma, or Burtoli’s ‘Knife and Fork’ pie with crumbled Italian sausage, Pomodoro and mozzarella.
But the deliciousness doesn’t stop there… We’ve got the classic Italian favorites like spaghetti and meatballs (chicken meatballs are also an option), bolognese and lasagna, but there are also quite a few other dishes worth trying, even if you’re a traditionalist. The butternut squash ravioli is one that guests cannot stop raving about. Made-in-house spinach pasta is mixed with crispy Brussels sprout leaves, pecorino romano ricotta, butter and sage. It’s truly fall on a plate. The smell alone will reel you in before you even take a bite. Note: gluten-free pasta is available on request.
But pizza and pasta isn’t all that Chef Fabrizio has up his sleeve — you’ve got to check out the entrées like the marsala-glazed pork chops with rosemary roasted potatoes, garlic charred broccoli, and a grape and red onion mostarda, the pollo arosta — wood-oven-roasted half chicken with Yukon Gold potatoes and an eggplant caponata, or the the chianti-braised short rib served over polenta cake with wilted spinach and baby carrots.
The Italian-inspired dessert menu is not to be missed, and one dish in particular had everyone at our table who tasted it absolutely swooning — the tiramisu. It’s made with homemade lady fingers soaked in espresso-kahlua syrups, and topped with mascarpone cream. The wood-oven-baked apple tart with granny Smith apples, caramel and cinnamon gelato has been on the menu since Prezzo’s opening, and is always a hit with guests.
The food and atmosphere at Prezzo is warm and comforting — you’ll feel as though you’re dining right in the home of an Italian family whose soul purpose of the night is to stuff you silly and leave you feeling full and happy. And you won’t be mad about it.
Prezzo is located at 5560 North Military Trail in Boca Raton. The restaurant is open Monday through Wednesday from 11:30am-9pm, Thursday and Friday from 11:30am-10pm, Saturday from 4:30-10pm and Sunday from 4:30-9pm. Private party bookings are available for Saturday and Sun from 11:30am-3pm with a minimum of 40 guests.
There are plenty of specials and promotions going on at Prezzo, so sit tight and check ’em out:
- $12 lunch specials are offered Monday through Friday from 11:30am-2pm and include a beverage.
- Monday nights, guests can enjoy half-off wines by the bottle with the purchase of an entrée.
- Tuesdays is Ladies Night with happy hour drink specials for the gals all night long at the bar and outdoor patio.
- Live music outside on Thursday nights from 8-9:30pm
- Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 11:30am-6:30pm and Saturday and Sunday from 4:30-6:30pm, featuring wine-by-the-glass specials and half-price beer, signature cocktails and select spirits.
- Late night happy hour is Monday through Saturday from 8:30pm to close at the bar and outdoor patio.
- Half Price Hour is Monday through Thursday from 5-6pm, Friday and Saturday from 4:30-5:30pm and Sunday from 4:30-6pm. Guests can buy one entrée, and get the 2nd entrée half-price.
